Amusement device with toppling playing pieces



NOV. 8, 1966 os 3,283,439

AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH TOPPLING PLAYING PIECES Filed Aug. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N T O R. Leonard B. Rosen 3 BY 4 I W m ATTORN EYS AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH TOPPLING PLAYING PIECES Filed Aug. 25, 1964 L. B. ROSEN Nov. 8, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,283,439 AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH TOPPLING PLAYING PIECES Leonard B. Rosen, RD. 2, Jamestown, Pa. Filed Aug. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 392,375

- 3 Claims. (Cl. 461) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 364,591, filed May 4, 1964.

This invention relates to an amusement device and more particularly it relates to a game board designed for use in combination with a plurality of playing pieces which can be aligned thereon and successively toppled.

It is well known that when certain types of upstanding playing pieces, such as dominoes, are located in spaced alignment along a path, manual toppling of the endmost playing piece in the path will cause it to strike the penultimate playing piece which in turn strikes its adjacent playing piece and so on until the entire row of playing pieces has been serially or successively toppled. The alignment and toppling of such playing pieces not only serves as a time-consuming form of amusement for children, convalescent patients, and others, but also serves as an exercise for increasing manual dexterity.

However, while the aforementioned alignment and toppling of playing pieces can take place along a linear path, there has in the past been no means for a single toppling operation to turn a corner and to thus continue toppling of pieces in another intersecting linear path unless the pieces were arranged in a broad arc or radial curve at the intersection of the paths. Furthermore, regardless of whether such past paths have been merely one straight line or a plurality of gradually merging straight lines, such past paths have been generally coplanar. It is felt that the amusement value derived from such a set-up can be greatly increased by utilizing a superposed or stacked series of paths. Such paths would utilize, to a fuller extent, the gravitational characteristics of the toppling playing pieces and would thus enhance the quality of amusement derived therefrom.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the preesnt inven- Further general, though equally significant, objects of the present invention include the provision of an amusement device which: (a) is easily manipulable by hand to permit playing pieces to be digitally aligned and toppled; (b) is inexpensive, yet is durable and attractive; (c) allows playing pieces to be serially toppled along intersecting paths and around sharp corners; and (d) provides an enjoyable recreational unit which increases manual dexterity.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of game board apparatus, which, when used in conjunction with a set of playing pieces, constitutes an amusement device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the game board of FIGURE 1 completely assembled and used in conjunction with a set of playing pieces to constitute a modified embodiment of amusement device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

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FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper end of the game board shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of a chute to be attached to the end shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views of the interfitting end portions of the chute segments.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention and as can be seen generally from FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, there is provided an amusement device generally designated 10 which includes a game board generally designated 12 having mounted thereon, pivotal gate means generally designated 14. A plurality of playing pieces generally designated 16 are provided for use in conjunction with the game board 14.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the game board 12 includes a pair of spaced upstanding side walls 62 having transversely extending enlarged feet 64 which serve to support the board in an upright and generally vertical position.

A plurality of playing paths generally designated 66 extend laterally between the side walls 62 to provide a means for mounting the playing pieces 16 to be used in conjunction with the game board. All of the playing paths 66 extend generally perpendicularly between the side walls and are stacked in spaced superposed position, one above the other. Each playing path 66 except the uppermost one is merely a flat planar strip 68. The upper most playing path 70 has a plurality of separate steps 72 on its upper surface, with each step being designed to accommodate a playing piece 16. The steps 72 are arranged in an arched disposition, gradually ascending from one side wall to a central step 72 and descending from that central step to the opposite side wall 62. A pair of handles 74 may be mounted on opposite sides of the central step 72 to permit the board 12 to be readily transported.

The playing paths 66 are provided at alternate ends with a notch 76 which facilitates mounting of the pivotal gate means 14. Thus, as can readily be seen from FIG- URE 1, the uppermost path 70 is provided with a notch 76 at its left end, the path 68 below it is provided with a notch 76 at its right end, the next lower path is provided with a notch 76 at its left end, and so on. The lowermost path is not provided with any notch, but instead is mounted in alignment withthe lower end of a window 78 formed at the lower end of one side wall 62. A step 80 projects outwardly from the wall 62 beneath the window for a purpose to be presently described.

Each gate means 14 is formed by an elongated rod 82, formed of plastic or other suitable material. Each rod 82 is mounted within its notch 76 by means of a transversely extending pin 84 which projects through the rod and mounts in the side walls of the notch. The pivotal movement of each rod 82 is limited by its placement within the notch, since each rod can only pivot until its terminal end strikes against the inner surface of the side wall 62.

Before describing the operation of amusement device formed by utilizing playing pieces 16 in conjunction with the game board 12 of FIGURE 1, reference is made to FIGURE 2 which shows auxiliary attachments which can be used in connection with the board. A lead-in ramp 86 having a plurality of steps 88 thereon can be mounted adjacent the side wall 62 of the board. The ramp 86 is inclined and has a lower end which rests upon the same support as the board itself, and an upper end which rests upon the step 80 beneath the window 78. A chute generally designated 90 can be attached to the other side of the board by means of a pin 92 and hole 93 formed at the upper end of the other side wall 62, as shown in FIG- URE 3.

The chute 90 is formed of two segments or sections, which define an upper segment 94 and a lower segment 96. As shown in FIGURE 4, the upper end of the upper segment 94 is provided with an open-ended groove 98 designed to receive the pin 82, and a projection 100 designed to fit within the hole 93. Due to the outwardly and downwardly arcuate curvature of the chute segment 94, the weight of the chute acts downwardly and thus forces the upper end thereof tightly against the side wall 62 wherein the projection 100 in the hole 93 prevents vertical movement of the chute. The lower end of the chute segment 94 is provided with a pair of spaced grooves 102, 104 and the upper end of the chute segment 96 is provided with a pair of spaced complemental pegs 106, 108 which fit respectively within the grooves. In this manner, the two chute segments can be selectively assembled in the manner and orientation shown in FIG- URE 2.

To utilize the game board 12 as an amusement device, playing pieces 16, of a form previously described, are placed upon each step 88 of the lead-in ramp 86, in spaced relation along each of the playing paths 68, and on each step 72 of the playing path 70. Initially, all of the playing pieces are in upstanding position. Then, the playing piece 16 on the bottom step of the lead-in ramp 86 is manually toppled. This strikes the next adjacent playing piece 16 and initiates a successive toppling action of a type previously described herein. The pieces 16 topple through the window 78 and across the lowermost playing path 68 until they strike the lower end of the gate rod 82 and cause it to move into contact with the side wall 62, as shown. As the rod 82 pivots, its upper end strikes the playing pieces on the second path and causes a rightto-left toppling in the orientation of FIGURE 2. When these playing pieces topple, they pivot the gate to cause the pieces on the next higher path to topple from left-toright. The toppling continues as a chain reaction across all of the playing paths 68 and finally across the playing path 70. When the last playing piece 16 on the uppermost path 70 is toppled, it falls into the chute 90, through the upper segment 94, into the lower segment 96, and finally exits onto the surface supporting the board 12.

The device is unique and fascinating in its operation, not only for the reasons previously mentioned, but because it appears to defy gravity. That is, the device of FIGURE 1 provides a unit where'the pieces topple uphill? and where the uppermost pieces are toppled last. However, if desired, the piece 16' can be toppled first to cause a downhill type of toppling action.

After reading the foregoing description, it should be 4 apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved. Accord-,

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device in which a plurality of discrete playing pieces can be aligned and successively toppled, said device comprising:

a game board having an upstanding frame including spaced, substantially vertical side walls;

a plurality of paths extending substantially perpendicularly between said side walls and thus being disposed in superposed relationship to one another;

a pivotal gate means extending between each path and its next adjacent path; 1

each gate means including an elongated rod being pivotally mounted on an axis coplanar with one of said paths and thus being pivotable toward and away from said side walls;

said elongated rods being mounted adjacent the ends of said playing paths;

a plurality of playing pieces, said device having means adapted to have said playing pieces disposed in spaced upstanding alignment along said paths whereby, when one playing piece is digitally toppled, it initiates a successive toppling action along one path to strike and pivot said elongated rod to initiate toppling on the next adjacent path and to thus continue successive toppling until all playing pieces have been serially toppled.

2. An amusement device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said paths is provided with a stepped surface thereon.

3. An amusement device as defined in claim 1 but further characterized by an attachable chute coacting with the path of said last toppled playing piece through which the last playing piece to be toppled falls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS I 555,288 2/1896 Keiser 273111 591,817 10/1897 Collmar et al.- 273l11 1,041,535 10/1912 Wallace 273-111 2,402,390 6/1946 Gardner 461 2,713,489 7/1955 Glaser 461 X 2,776,835 1/1957 Wilson 46-1 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L.- J. OVAS Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF DISCRETE PLAYING PIECES CAN BE ALIGNED AND SUCCESSIVELY TOPPLED, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A GAME BOARD HAVING AN UPSTANDING FRAME INCLUDING SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SIDE WALLS; A PLURALITY OF PATHS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS AND THUS BEING DISPOSED IN SUPERPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER; A PIVOTAL GATE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH PATH AND ITS NEXT ADJACENT PATH; EACH GATE MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED ROD BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON AN AXIS COPLANAR WITH ONE OF SAID PATHS AND THUS BEING PIVOTABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALLS; SAID ELONGATED RODS BEING MOUNTED ADJACENT THE ENDS OF SAID PLAYING PATHS; A PLURALITY OF PLAYING PIECES, SAID DEVICE HAVING MEANS ADAPTED TO HAVE SAID PLAYING PIECES DISPOSED IN SPACED UPSTANDING ALIGNMENT ALONG SAID PATHS WHEREBY, WHEN ONE PLAYING PIECE IS DIGITALLY TOPPLED, IT INITIATES A SUCCESSIVE TOPPLING ACTION ALONG ONE PATH TO STRIKE AND PIVOT SAID ELONGATE ROD TO INITIATE TOPPLING ON THE NEXT ADJACENT PATH AND TO THUS CONTINUE SUCCESSIVE TIPPLING UNTIL ALL PLAYING PIECES HAVE BEEN SERIALLY TOPPLED. 